The WORLDFACTORY also serves as a meeting point for international students and scientists interested in starting a business.
International scientists with an affinity for start-ups or application-oriented scientists as well as founders from abroad will find advice and support at the WORLDFACTORY, for example through networking in the relevant research areas at RUB or in the local ecosystem of the Ruhr area.
Support for international founders
- Creating a network of international start-ups interested in settling in the Ruhr start-up ecosystem.
- Events for international sciencepreneurs, for example within the framework of Young Entrepreneurs in Science (YES).
- Informative events for international RUB students and RUB academics interested in founding a company with international founder role models from RUB.
- Other international events for establishing networks with regional companies, start-ups, investors and the regional ecosystem.
Innovation Made in Ghana at WORLDFACTORY 2024
A group of 10 talented start-up representatives from Ghana visited Ruhr-Universität Bochum to exchange ideas and network with the WORLDFACTORY Start-up Center. Sven Maihöfer, founder and COO of RUB start-up xemX, accompanied the group throughout the day. The start-ups are active in various areas such as the circular economy, e-mobility, logistics, smart energy, health, agriculture and Industry 4.0 and were guests in NRW for a total of two months as part of the GIZ exchange program “WIN NRW.Africa”.
Stage Two WILDCARDS 2024
On September 19, twelve international start-ups had the chance to pitch for a wildcard for the renowned university start-up competition Stage Two. It gave them the chance to take part in the grand final on the Stage Two stage in Berlin, even without prior nomination by their university. Stage Two is the largest pan-European competition for university spin-offs. The wildcard event was organized by WORLDFACTORY for the first time in 2024.
Guest lecture by Prof. Dr. Elicia Maine
Prof. Dr. Elicia Maine (Simon Fraser University, Canada) is a member of the RUB International Board for Transfer and Entrepreneurship. In June 2024, she visited Ruhr-Universität Bochum and shared best practice cases in the field of transfer in a guest lecture organized by the WORLDFACTORY and the Chair of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Business Models.
Guest visit from Connie Zheng
In spring 2024, Connie Zheng gave insights into AI-supported decision support for inclusive personnel selection as a guest researcher at HUMAINE. The stay in Bochum was funded by WORLDFACTORY International as part of the Global Transfer Exchange university program. Researchers at Ruhr-Universität Bochum have the opportunity to invite international guest researchers. The aim of the joint exchange is to further develop the transfer potential of one's own research.
WORLDFACTORY Demo Day 2024 - International Edition
The WORLDFACTORY Demo Day on April 29, 2024 marked the second round of the start-up competition - this time as an international edition. Ten promising start-ups pitched to the six-member jury. Five teams convinced the jury and were named the top 5 start-ups of RUB 2024.
Innovation made in Nigeria at WORLDFACTORY 2024
Two profound experiences set Reagan Rowland on the path to revolutionizing the Nigerian healthcare system. His idea came to Bochum via the WIN NRW.Africa program with WORLDFACTORY International.
Guest visit Brightlands Chemelot Campus
In April 2023, the rectorate of the Ruhr-Universität visited the Brightlands Chemelot Campus, an important center for chemistry and materials in the Netherlands. In January 2024, Dr. Astrid Boeijen and Jurgen van de Rijke from Brightland Chemelot returned the visit. In collaboration with various departments, they explored synergies in the fields of chemistry and materials.
Entrepreneurship Explorer Ruhr 2023
For three days, participants from all over the world came to Bochum, the hotspot for cybersecurity research and innovation in Europe, to further develop their start-up idea together with experts. In business model and market entry workshops as well as intensive pitch trainings with a coach, the international founders worked intensively on their start-up ideas. In addition to a company visit to G DATA, the program included networking events with founders and key players from the Ruhr region. During the evaluation, the exceptionally strong ecosystem with its support services was particularly emphasized. All participants are aiming to start a business in Germany.
German-Asian Innovation Exchange Forum (GAIEF)
In November 2023, the GAIEF took place in the RUB-Makerspace in cooperation with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNS). After an initial exchange with the Vice Rector for Research and Transfer at RUB and the Managing Director of the WORLDFACTORY, the founders from Asia were able to participate in a workshop on “Impact Measurement” together with the WORLDFACTORY team. In addition to the exchange and networking with RUB founders, the event served as a basis for further cooperation projects.
